Women in Combat? Why?

No, you said "many professions". Care to elaborate with a worth while comparison?

 

Infantry, artillery, and special ops are male professions. We are allowed to join the forces. We are allowed to do a variety of jobs in the military.

 

Did you really just compare a combat post to a teenager's bedroom?

 

Yes, like everything else in life, women secure rights only when they have fought for them and officially forced them into place... and only if other women have the backbone to maintain the rights others secured for them, will those rights be maintained or as is required in this case, developed.

 

Look at it.

 

This is not something we should be forcing into place. It is not really in anyone's interest. Trust me, if I did not see this backfiring on the few women interested in it, I would be on board. If it did not negatively impact the current ground force, I would be in favor. That is not the reality of the situation.

 

All of the above can be done by women. Women have fought in war. If women want to do those tasks, they will be opened to women when they decide to force that issue.

That is a choice women will make. Men have no authority to prevent it.

 

I was a teenager once. I had a messy room. University life was stressful, but not even close to the stress levels in the middle of a combat zone. Stress breeds tension. I did not have to sleep in a room with twenty horny males. I had my own bathroom, shower, privacy, ect.

 

It is a statement of fact. Whether anyone considers it a personal attack is no concern of mine.

Apparently men fighting for their lives, and for the freedom of their countrymen, don't have enough to occupy them, and are somehow morally obligated to prove themselves to be Sir Galahads, lest they be held up to scorn by critics who, never having fired a shot in anger, are nonetheless qualified to lay upon those men an unprecedented additional burden.

Have I got that about right?

 

That is your opinion. You don't speak for other women.

You also have not experienced what you're discussing, so it is only your opinion.

 

When it came down to trusting a woman to perform her duties in a critical situation, most soldiers did not.

 

No, as usual you've got it completely wrong. If women enter the field of battle, they will do so taking full responsibility for their own safety. It is neither the responsibility nor the right of any male to interfere or impose his own values on a woman who has made that choice. I.e. butt out, your intrusion is neither needed nor appreciated.

 

I consider myself fairly strong, but I know I cannot haul the artillery equipment men do for miles. I seriously doubt I could drag a 230lbs man to safety while discharging my weapon at the same time. I know I cannot live among a lot of men without at least one of them pursuing me. I understand there are probably some women stronger than myself, but I am already a very small representation of the general female population.

If there were enough women to create separate units, it might work, but they will still not be comparable to the men. Also, what do you do in a country like Afghanistan where the men will not listen to a female? What use are female patrols?

We fight in war. I take pride in the fact that I have participated in combat in support of the guys on the ground. I am trained to kill and protect just like the guys, but this is a completely different animal you want tamed.

 

I have not experienced what exactly?

 

So what? That males have a problem trusting colleagues is again completely the male's problem and for the male to address. It's not a problem for the women. Before any soldier, male or female, takes the field they are presumably fully trained and equipped to do the job or they would not be there. That being the case, man up.

 

What were you talking about, exactly?

 

That is what some will do. Whether it is a flaw in men or not is irrelevant. Either way, it is admitting that there will be a problem.

 

Integrating women into combat infantry, artillery, and special ops units.

 

That then.

 

I stated there will be incidents from my first post. Of course there will. Men resist change and they like their little boys clubs. They don't like women coming along to ruin things and make them grow up. As always it is just a case of forcing them to accept change. Don't worry. It's been done before.

You're spending too much time with them, btw. You're sounding indoctrinated into the mentality that suits them.

 

No woman has, but I can put my own experiences to use in this regard. I have had issues on the large unit scale. I have been verbally harassed by an Army officer or two and I do not work anywhere near them on a daily basis. It is a testosterone powered environment and there are bound to be issues. The smaller the unit, the more explosive the consequences.

 

They are going to remain little boys clubs. If you can find 1,000 women interested in being in the infantry, impressive. If you can find 100 women that could meet the standards and deal with the day-to-day circumstances like their male counterparts, then you have a case. It is not that easy though.

I am just speaking on my experiences. I am one of about 45 women in my specific profession. It is tough. To the people I fly with I am an equal, but there are plenty more people that think the contrary.

 

A riot situation is not a place you want a woman watching your back.

 

Even granting such a dubious premise, you have totally dodged the issue.

Of course it's not the decision of any one person, as under our Constitution that's up to Congress...

...not some feminist dingbat from across the pond.

Viv...you adorable little vixen you...I don't give a diddly damm whether you appreciate my input or not.

 

If there are heavy things to carry, let the men do it. That is the one thing they are useful for.

In reality you have a team, use the strengths as appropriate. If they insist on manufacturing stupidly heavy weapons which exceed maximum manual handling weight limits, manufacture lighter ones. If women are going to be there, they will need equipment suitable for women.

Take the step of letting them know they're not going to succeed. Which would have to be done immediately, in a professional situation. If they don't back off, report them. If popularity is an issue you're probably in the wrong job, at least until stronger women have done the work to make sure the concept of respecting women colleagues is accepted.

They will be better than men.

You will possibly find they listen better to a woman who has a gun.

Not really. Compared to the other barriers women have had to overcome, it is just one among many.